by Gini Koch
“What’s with the shoes, do you think?” I asked as we went past yet more pairs. The ones down here were workboots, ballet slippers, and ice skates. “I mean, none of this is normal, but the shoes thing is beyond weird.”
“No guess,” White said. “I’m trying not to focus on them, and I suggest you do the same.”
“Do I even want to know what you’ve noticed about them and haven’t shared?”
“No,” he said firmly, “you do not.”
“Okey dokey. On a different but still not cheery note, any guess as to what’s happened to the Peregrines or Poofs?”
“I have no idea. That’s your area of expertise. However, I don’t believe this is the place where you want to try to have them gather to rejoin you.”
“No, not at all.”
We didn’t talk for the rest of the way, in part because it was suffocating down here. Was hoping we wouldn’t find anyone here because I was even more worried about how they’d be doing than how Jerry, Hughes, and Walker were doing.
Reached the end of the corridor. No special room, but there were four metal cabinets that looked heavy and also like they were blocking something. There was just a little space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling, meaning there was some air coming in. So to speak, in this particular atmosphere.
White and I moved them—tons of fun since I had to put the flashlight into my purse because the cabinets were heavier than they looked, so the light was moving around and not shining anywhere we needed it—but we were rewarded.
There were two men here, gagged of course, and tied back-to-back, sitting with their legs out straight and also tied at the ankles and knees. This was reminiscent of how the Dingo and Surly Vic had tied up Amy and Caroline during Operation Sherlock. However, these people were jammed into the walls in such a way that they couldn’t move.
Mr. Flashlight shared that one was white and one was black, but both were in black Armani suits. Hard to tell with gags in their mouths, but I was willing to bet that they were both really great looking.
This meant either of them could have based out of half of the Centaurion bases around the world. However, since I knew we’d lost four Field agents during Operation Epidemic, that they were assigned to D.C.—and therefore that I should know who they were—was a given.
Didn’t recognize either one of them. This meant nothing, of course. They could have been working with me for years and I probably wouldn’t have been able to pick them up out of a lineup.
“Their necks are tied, too,” White said quietly.
“It’s because they’re A-Cs. They needed more control than the humans.” Which truly boded for the princesses.
Pulled out the Swiss Army knife I hadn’t owned until we’d found Jerry, and White and I went to work. Carefully took the gags out of their mouths while White started to cut the bonds around their necks.
“Don’t try to talk. I’ll give you water as soon as it’s safe for you to drink it.”
“These aren’t rope,” White said tensely. “The knife has dulled already. They seem to be a metallic alloy of some kind.”
Looked into my purse. “I wonder if I have some kind of metal cutters just stashed away in here for a rainy day.” Dug around and, sure enough, a pair of sturdy metal cutters came up.
White shot me an appraising look. He didn’t say anything—he couldn’t even if he’d wanted to, since Algar wouldn’t have allowed it—but I got the distinct impression he’d figured out that Algar had turned my purse into a portal.
That he wholeheartedly agreed on this course of action wasn’t in question, of course. White took the cutters from my hand. “I’m so glad you always come prepared for any and all eventualities, Missus Martini.”
“Let’s just say that I’ve learned to roll with anything and everything possible and leave it at that. I’m hoping I have more water in there, too.” The A-Cs were clearly going to need more than the three flyboys had. And I had no idea if Adriana had any water with her, or if all the people they’d found and hopefully were still finding were out of luck.
White got the steel bonds off of the agents’ necks and I gave them both a couple of sips of water. Then let them each take a slightly larger drink. “Sort of swish that around in your mouths before you swallow.”
They both nodded and did as suggested and White introduced them as Daniel and Joshua, who was the white guy, both from South Africa. “How did you find us?” Daniel managed to croak in an accent that was probably really adorable when he actually had saliva around to help out.
“Long story. We’re still finding the others, so everyone gets to get rescued, get into the fresh air, and once we’re all together, I’ll share our Campfire Stories.”
It took much longer because thick wire didn’t cut any faster than rope did, and there were a lot more bonds on these guys than we’d dealt with so far. But finally it was done. White took Daniel, who was the empath and therefore the bigger guy of their team, while I took Joshua, who was the imageer.
Both guys had trouble standing and more trouble walking. We were able to go at hyperspeed, though, so that was a huge help. I was definitely angry enough that the skills were working just fine.
Left them outside with the others who were, thankfully, exactly where we’d left them, then White and I headed back to do the other half of the lower corridor.
“Do you think we’ll find others here?” he asked me as we made our way as carefully as before, but much more quickly.
“Yes. Our people were stashed by androids, and machines definitely like symmetry and things being even and so forth.”
Sure enough, we got to the end and, after moving the heavy metal cabinets, we found our other set of Field agents, bound exactly like Daniel and Joshua had been. These turned out to be Lucas, the imageer, and Marcus, the empath, both from Spain and based originally out of Euro Base. As with Daniel and Joshua, they’d been assigned to the D.C. duty because they were considered a top team.
Got them topside without too much issue, but still it had taken a while. And yet “Look Around” was still going on. Seriously had to wonder if Algar thought I was an idiot or couldn’t count.
Then it dawned on me that he might be trying to tell me something else. So, I did as the song suggested and took a look around.
“What are you looking at?” Lizzie asked.
“Everything. Nothing. Just looking around.”
“Adriana’s team has found the ten Secret Service agents who were taken. They’re moving them to the car. They can’t use hyperspeed, though, because none of their rescued folks have taken the cure. Think we should move our people there, too?”
“Probably, yeah.” The Kendroid had taken the keys but the car could be hot-wired. It couldn’t hold everyone, but it could take the worst to the nearest hospital if nothing else, and they could call for help. “Help. You know, seriously, why isn’t the cavalry here?”
“Because they can’t find us?” Lizzie asked.
“Yeah. And yet, they should be able to, wouldn’t you think? I mean, my phone was on for the entire drive here . . .”
“What?” White asked me. “I know that look.”
“He said he had a GPS scrambler. And I was all kinds of polite and didn’t ask if it was inside of him or not.”
“You mean the Kendroid?” White asked.
“Yes, and once again, let me mention how much I love that you embrace my names for things. I think the GPS scrambler is inside of him, not inside of the car. Meaning he’s sent and is continuing to send our people on a wild goose chase of some kind.”
“Adriana agrees with you,” Abigail said as she appeared out of nowhere. “Meaning that if we want help, you, me, or Uncle Richard have to literally run for it and hope to get some help, or we have to find the Kendroid and make him turn off the scrambler and cellular obstructer we’re all sure he has on
him, too.”
“We still have five people missing, too. We have to find them first.” And the song was still going on. Thankfully I really liked it, but obviously I was missing something and Algar was going to play this song until I freaking figured it out.
There were at least three huge buildings to check, and probably more, since this place was surrounded by forest. Even with hyperspeed it was going to take us time to find the others. And the people we’d found didn’t seem to be doing that well, the A-Cs in particular, faster healing or no faster healing.
So maybe I needed to look around at the entire complex. After all, there might be a building that screamed Hostage Center more than the others. Or maybe I’d find someone to help us. Or the Kendroid.
“You three get everyone to the car so we’re all together. I’m going to check the perimeter and see what I can find. But I’ll need the walkie.”
Lizzie handed it to me. “You sure you should go alone?”
“Yeah, our people need help. I won’t enter a creepy building alone.” Everyone around me snorted. “I think I should resent that. Look, I’ll have the walkie, and I’ll keep in touch.”
“I don’t like the idea of you going alone,” White said.
“I know. I’m not thrilled with it. But I just know we need to hurry up. I’ll stay in contact, I promise.” And with that, I took off running.
CHAPTER 61
GOT OUT OF SIGHT, stopped, and looked in my purse. “A pair of jeans and a pair of Converse, please and thank you.” Reached in, was rewarded. “Socks, too. You really and truly are the best.”
Quickly pulled the jeans on, then took my skirt off, just in case we had the most unhelpful paparazzi in the world lurking about. Then I put on the socks and thankfully changed my shoes. My feet might have loved Algar most of all.
What to do with the skirt and pumps was now the issue. Wrapped the skirt around the pumps and put them on the top of my purse. They could come in handy. Weirder things had before, after all.
Checked the BT. Still the yellow-green color. Of course, three of the five flyboys were in the vicinity. However, it had definitely shown green when we were near them. For all I knew, it had done so outside of the building they were in and I just hadn’t paid attention. Decided to keep the BT out.
Headed off again, as if 2nd Street went on, which it didn’t. There were several buildings that were clearly part of Forest Haven since they were in horrible decay. A couple of them were near what looked like a brand-new facility that was what Lizzie had spotted. But the fencing seemed quite high and even though I was sure those of us with hyperspeed could get in, Lizzie’s point about getting out again was key. I didn’t want to use the FLOTUS Card here, for a variety of reasons.
The decrepit buildings were bordered by dense forest and what I was now certain was a detention facility. The high wire fencing that went around what looked like a track or a football field as well as the rest of the place was something of a clue. The BT didn’t change color by any of them. So, nothing else to see here.
Headed back to where I’d started, essentially, this time following a street that proclaimed itself Forest Haven Avenue, going what I kind of thought was east. There was the one building to my left that we’d been headed to when Lizzie had thought to have us check the car, and three big ones to my right—the BT remained yellow-green.
Ahead of me the street turned into a path. Followed this and finally came to a really creepy building surrounded by forest. Did a fast run around. No signs of anything or anyone, but that meant nothing. Looked at the BT. It wasn’t full green, but it was definitely less yellow-green.
Really wanted to go in here and not just because the BT might be indicating Joe or Randy were here. I also wanted to check it out because I felt in my bones that if Stephanie had chosen one of these buildings as her Supervillain Lite Lair, this was the one. However, I’d promised I wouldn’t go into the creepy buildings alone and, frankly, the idea of going into even the chapel by myself was a lot more than I felt able to handle unless it was absolutely necessary.
Ran back and this time went to the south, behind the three big buildings. Hit the street we’d come in on, though I was on a part I hadn’t seen before. The biggest building yet was on the other side. It looked like ten large interconnected buildings, really. This also had three of the big metal containers near different doors. The BT remained yellow-green around this section.
There was something about this place, though—any time I was near it, the sun seemed to disappear even though it was right there in the sky. Decided I was getting far too spooked and now wasn’t the time to bravely do things I’d promised not to.
Went the rest of the way down this street and was rewarded with the sun not disappearing for no good reason. The street dead-ended at some trees. But it started again on the other side of the trees—and the even higher double fencing topped with barbed wire that was on the other side of the trees, just before the road started again. Lovely neighborhood.
Could see buildings beyond the trees and there were cars and diesel trucks parked there. Decided to check in. “If you guys checked all the buildings to the so-called west, then I think we have eight left to go through.” Waited. Nothing. “Oh. Over.”
“You’re new at this, I see,” Adriana said. “But yes, we checked all the buildings, including the one that seems to be a part of the prison but is not. Over.”
“Aha, so you guys saw that, too. We vetoed going there for help. What did you guys think? Over.”
“We think that we are not supposed to be here and that no one is going to believe we are who we say we are until it becomes an incident that will make your enemies very happy and your husband miserable. Over.”
“Nice to be on the same page. I’m by what looks like another prison. Or detention center. Or something else that requires a lot of barbed wire and such. Though the barbed wire could be there to keep that place separated from this one, since it’s more along what I think is the property line as opposed to around the facility. Over.”
“Mahin says that we are actually quite near to NSA headquarters and feels that where you are might be related to that. Or it could be benign and merely trying to ensure that whoever comes here doesn’t go there. However, as with the prison, going there for help might be inadvisable. Over.”
“Yeah, that was going to be my question, so thanks for anticipating. We need more water. And a rescue. Are you all still with the car? Over.”
“Yes. Over.”
“Great, coming back. Over. Um, sorry, out.” Contemplated if I should change back into my skirt and pumps, but my feet said that there was no way they were going back into the FLOTUS Shoes. Decided I’d come up with some lame story, kicked up the hyperspeed, and rejoined everyone.
Seeing over twenty people sitting in, on, or around the limo really brought two things home—one was that we needed to get help, pronto, and two was that we needed to find our remaining missing people sooner than we needed to get help.
Interestingly, no one mentioned my change of clothes. Figured that either they were all too stressed and such to notice or that Algar was ensuring that they couldn’t notice. Chose to totally not care.
“What’s our game plan?” Jerry asked.
“Find the others and get the hell out of here would be my recommendation,” Hughes said dryly. Everyone else nodded.
“We have one car and it won’t hold enough people, so until the cavalry arrives . . .” Looked at the A-Cs. “Hey, Dan and Marc, what are you feeling around this place? I mean, can you pick up anything other than those of us here?”
“I can’t feel anything,” Daniel said, clearly trying not to wince at his new nickname.
“I can’t, either,” Marcus added, while trying less hard to hide the wincing. “I was thinking that our kidnappers must have done something to us.”
“Drax didn’t,” Daniel said.
“I could still feel everyone when he took us. I didn’t stop feeling until we got kidnapped by what Missus Martini is insisting is an android.”
“Oh, my God, it’s Kitty, period. Commander if you must have a title for right now. And he’s definitely an android, and that would mean that said Kendroid has emotional overlays and blockers inside of him, too, which makes sense. But that means there are more of them here, because the Kendroid wasn’t at this location all the time since you guys have been taken.”
“What does that indicate for assistance?” White asked. “Again, I know that look.”
“I’ve been really enraged a couple of times. And I’m sure some of us were scared. In fact, I’d think everyone we’ve already rescued and those still missing were and are mad and scared as hell.”
“And?” one of the P.T.C.U. personnel asked.
Abigail jerked. “And why hasn’t the strongest empath in at least this part of the galaxy—who was actively looking for his missing people—picked up anything?”
“More to the point,” Mahin said, “why hasn’t he picked up where Kitty is?”
“Because he can’t, because whatever Stephanie has going on here, she’s already set it up so that her uncle can’t find her or anyone she takes captive. I’ll wager that she has something here that affects imageers, too.”
“We’re all still affected from what they hit us with three years ago,” Joshua said. “But I’m willing to bet that if I tried to read anything, I couldn’t.” Lucas nodded his agreement.
“So no one is coming to help us,” White said. “Meaning it’s up to us to find the rest of our missing people and that helicarrier.”
Decided to go with my gut. “I think I found the place that’s most likely to have the rest of our people. I could be wrong, though. There aren’t enough of us to search every building at once, and we don’t have enough walkies for more than two teams. Thoughts?”
